Jesus once helped a woman held captive 12 years by a health problem that made her ritually unclean.
How important was this problem to her? She had spent all her money seeking a cure (Mark 5:25-29). It was worth everything she had.
Women didn't ordinarily touch rabbis, but she touched Jesus--and Jesus gave her freedom. It cost her nothing, but it was worth everything!
Contrast that with the Israelites in Egypt. They wanted freedom, too, and they could not buy their way out.
They groaned, and God heard them. He delivered them with miracles. It cost them nothing, but how much was it worth to them? Not much, it seems.
Though God set them free, they preferred a golden calf. They preferred the unholy fire, murmuring and self-centeredness. They grumbled about the person God used to lead them. They grumbled about God, food and life itself.
Let's go to the New Testament, where Christ sets people free--free from spiritual bondage of sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15).
How much did it cost? It cost God the Son his life, and all of the suffering he endured that we might have eternal life.
Freedom is given to us without charge, because we are unable to pay. How much is it worth to us?
Our entire lives, of course. "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him" (2 Corinthians 5:15). We are to give our entire lives to him in service, as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
In the past three years, many people in the WCG have been set free! Free from the fear of "not making it" into the kingdom. Free from rules God did not require us to keep. Free from rules that caused us to condemn other Christians.
Each of us may examine our own hearts to see how much we value this freedom.
It is thrilling to see that many have responded with enthusiastic support. Many have sent in special offerings in the past month. I am grateful for the help these give us in a time of need--a help that goes not to an impersonal institution, but to people blessed by the message of freedom in Christ.
The offerings were given in worship, expressions of gratitude to the One who died for us. Thank you for responding to our request!
But some are afraid of the wilderness and look for the comforts of Egypt, and others try to enter the promised land on their own, or sit in the desert by themselves.
Christ has given us freedom, and he used humans to bring that about. People respond in different ways. Some rejoice; some do not.
I suppose there will always be reasons to complain about the imperfections of leaders, the food or the music. But some are quietly working to build the kingdom of God.
The old covenant had many obligations. It specified a certain amount of time, a certain amount of money, numerous rules about behavior and many sacrifices for worship. They teach us something about God and the relationship we have with him.
As we all know, God no longer requires animal sacrifices--but that does not mean that he no longer requires us to make any sacrifices.
The demands are now more profound. God no longer requires all the same rules of behavior--but he still gives many commands regarding our behavior, and more importantly, about our hearts.
Of course, God no longer has the same rules about money--now, his exhortations are more profound. Do we resent God's claim on "our" money? Some do. Some say no one is good enough to be given God's money.
In a way, that is true, but it's also true that if we as Christians keep all our money, we are not responding to freedom the way the New Testament describes we should.
And what about time? God no longer specifies exactly when people must set aside time for him, but we all need to spend time with the Lord.
Jesus gives us freedom so we can serve him. Freedom comes with responsibility. How much is freedom worth to us?
Thousands are rejoicing in the freedom Jesus is bringing to people through messages given in the WCG. You probably know many of them.
And yet you probably know quite a few who still have not accepted that freedom. Do not abandon them in their time of need. Help us to reach out, despite our imperfections, with the message of freedom in Christ.
I wish you could see the person your contribution helps us reach, the pastor your contribution helps us to pay, the counseling session in which yet another person begins to grasp God's love for them.
If you cannot see the joy of burdens lifted and the peace of anxieties released, be assured that freedom is indeed ringing around the world.
Ask God to help you see it. Ask him to bless the results of our work. Pray that our priorities be drawn closer to the heart of God. Pray for those who need to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1998